関ヶ原の戦い Battle of Sekigahara

 On the final battle day, (September 15), the rain which had been falling since the previous night stopped. however a dense fog lay all around.
  In Sekigahara the fog cleared after 8:00 am. Strong general Saizo Kani of the Fukushima forces was deceived by Naomasa Ii, Tadayoshi Matsudaira and others who pretended to be on patrol, but instead they fired on Ukita’s forces. Because Masanori Fukushima was appointed the lead of the group from Ieyasu, they immediately attacked Ukita’s forces.

   A fierce battle began at the same time beacons were lit at Maruyama, Mt.Temma, and Mt.Sasao.
  The forces of Takatora Kyogoku and Takatora Todo attacked the Yoshitugu Otani.
  The Fukushima forces collided with Ukita forces from the front.
  The forces of Uraku Oda, Shigekatsu Furuta and Hirotaka Terasawa charged at the Konishi forces.
  The forces of Tadayoshi Matsudaira, Naomasa Ii and Tadakatsu Honda made a fierce attack on the Shimazu forces.

  An intense fight occurred at Mt. Sasao. Nearly 20000 soldiers, under Ngamasa Kuroda,   Tadaoki Hosokawa, Yoshiaki Kato bore down upon the command post of Mitsunari with severe force, and tried to break through.
  However, Sakon Shima utilized his intellect and fooled the EASTERN ARMY. Sakon Shima divided his forces into two. He used one for defense and commanded the other, to try to break through Kuroda’s army.
  On the battlefield Sakon Shima looked like a demon. The EASTERN ARMY soldiers were ready to run away, terrified by his figure, so they tried to escape.

  After 9:00am Nagamasa Kuroda gave up on breaking through Sakon’s forces so secretly detoured a gun corps around them. They showered bullets upon Sakon Shima’s forces.
  And Sakon Shima got injured, Satoie Gamo of other advance guard desperately defend the violent attack of the EASTERN ARMY.
  But in the end the defense line of Mitsunari was broken by the EASTERN ARMY.

  So Mitsunari shot a hidden cannon at the EASTERN ARMY.
  When the cannonball landed and exploded, it made a big roaring sound and the ground shook violently. So many soldiers of EASTERN ARMY were trembling in fear.
  At the same time gun forces showered back‐to‐back bullets upon the EASTERN ARMY soldiers.
  So the power of both the cannon and the guns performed astonishing work, causing many soldiers of the EASTERN ARMY to disgrace themselves by retreating to their camp.

   However, Ieyasu Tokugawa moved his camp from Mt.Momokubari to Jinbano(Shogiba) at about 11:00 a.m. Ieyasu did not understand the war situation clearly, and to raise the morale of the soldiers.
  The morale of the EASTERN ARMY eventually improved, and soldiers made an onslaught against Ishida corps. The Ishida was attacked by the several fold military power of the EASTERN ARMY. At last the Ishida forces were cornered at the palisade of his home territory.

  At 11:00am Mitsunari went to the forces of Yoshihiro Shimazu by himself, and requested a relief party for Ishida’s .forces. However, this request was declined by Toyohisa Shimazu, Mitsunari had no choice but to return to Mt. Sasao.
  As for the war situation, the WESTERN ARMY was working hard. If Mori’s army corps at Mt. Nangu and Kobayakawa’ forces at Matsuo attacked the EASTERN ARMY. Mitsunari was convinced that the WESTERN ARMY would be victorious.